The Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati has been an integral part of substance abuse prevention in Greater Cincinnati since its founding in 1996. While the organization will continue its work, it recently expanded its mission to promote substance abuse prevention as a lifetime choice. To help better identify its new focus, Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati also recently changed its name, to PreventionFIRST!. Here to discuss the changes are PreventionFIRST! President and CEO Mary Haag and Board of Trustee Members Larry Williams and Melinda Brown. Larry Williams is retired vice-president for Talbert House, and Melinda Brown is with Stayin' Alive, a PreventionFIRST! coalition member.

The Coalition for a Drug Free Greater Cincinnati has a new name. Prevention First isn't as much of a mouthful, according to executive director Mary Haag.

“And that’s part of the point. We felt like people didn’t truly understand who we are and what we do,” she said.

“We are still the go-to experts for substance abuse prevention," said Haag. "But to be clear, some people would sometimes be confused. Is it treatment, recovery support? All of the other components that make up that issue.”